YOUNG people are often criticised for their political apathy when statistics are released showing that the 18 to 25 age group has the highest percentage of non-voters.

The reasons given for why this generation does not go to the ballot box are wide and varied but one topic is often overlooked and could easily be changed.

For it is ridiculous that hundreds of thousands of teenagers can marry, work, pay taxes – and even serve in the Armed Forces – but are unable to play their part in the democratic process because of their age.

Debates, like those currently being organised at schools and colleges, show there is an appetite among our youngest citizens to discuss politics and the decisions that will ultimately affect their futures.

But for some archaic tradition, these teenagers still cannot have their say on election day.

The example set by the Scottish referendum of 2014, which allowed 16-year-olds to vote, showed that teenagers were not the lazy and apathetic youths that many ageing, and patronising, politicians paint them out to be.

And in Mhairi Black, Scotland has produced someone who is anything but male, pale and stale, and has livened up House of Commons debates while also giving her generation a voice in parliament.

By lowering the voting age to 16, it will hopefully incentivise more teenagers to take up a career in politics and push Parliament towards truly resembling the society it is supposed to represent.